Vicki Jurney-Taylor does amazing job for pets

When I first met Vicki Jurney-Taylor, I was still working at the Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County in San Antonio. I thought she had come to adopt a pet. Instead, she had come to tell me about a wonderful idea whose time she felt had come.

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Taylor with Silver Stars mascot at Luau

This was a woman on a mission; she was determined to help the elderly, the handicapped and the terminally ill keep their pets. “Everyone,” she said, “deserves to have a pet.”

I listened because there is no greater service for animals than helping people keep their pets, and realized that Taylor had hit upon a need in our community that was clearly not being addressed. I wondered if she could pull it off, since great ideas abound, but few people are able to act on them.

As a young girl who loved pets, Taylor, of course, wanted to be a veterinarian. She was always blessed with pets around and currently shares her life with Summer, a long-haired chihuahua, and Keoki, a mixed breed that she recently adopted from Animal Care Services. But Taylor has Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy and relies on a power wheelchair and ventilator, so she turned her passion for animals in another direction. She realized that the elderly, handicapped and terminally ill could benefit from having pets around, if only there were someone to handle a few basic pet care chores.

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Vicki Jurney-Taylor and Summer

Taylor proved to have the mettle to move this concept forward. She formed Pet Pals of Texas in 2003 and since then has helped keep 315 San Antonio pets in their homes. Her army of volunteers — whom she personally trains — visits people in the program, providing basic pet care for their pets, like walking dogs, cleaning litterboxes, transporting pets, administering medications and even maintaining aquariums.

Taylor herself is busy all year-round promoting her organization and planning fundraisers, like “Yappy Hours” at businesses around town, or luaus and auctions, to support the organization’s work. Taylor’s work is invaluable to the community, enabling people to keep the comfort of their pets always by their side.

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About the Author

Cathy M. Rosenthal has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, communications and humane education in the animal welfare field. She has worked for local humane societies and national humane groups, appearing on hundreds of television and radio news and public affairs programs to address animal issues. She currently is a consultant for local and national animal welfare organizations, writing grants, annual reports and other marketing materials. She is also the author of several children's books about animals.